FAQ s Global Connections, a Better Parliament: The New Zealand Parliament s Draft Inter-Parliamentary Relations Strategy,

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1 FAQ s Global Connections, a Better Parliament: The New Zealand Parliament s Draft Inter-Parliamentary Relations Strategy, ) What are Inter-Parliamentary Relations (IPR) and Parliamentary diplomacy? A) The phrase parliamentary diplomacy can refer to a range of activities undertaken by parliamentarians to increase mutual understanding between countries, assist in improving the oversight and scrutiny of government, better represent their communities and increase the democratic legitimacy of inter-governmental institutions. 1 Parliamentary diplomacy is part of the broader practice of IPR, which also includes technical assistance, parliamentary strengthening and capacity building activities. IPR has a number of aims, which include: improving the functioning of parliaments at the national level through exchange of knowledge, experience and dialogue exercising democratic control and scrutiny of government at the international level initiating activities aimed at promoting peace and security, and strengthening democracy and human rights investing in personal relations and international contacts disseminating and safeguarding democratic values; and helping solve international crises, such as financial, environmental and energy crises. 2 Inter-parliamentary relations also come in a number of forms, including: Speaker-led diplomacy - advancing the collective national interest through activities led by the Speaker or Presiding Officer active participation in international parliamentary organisations (IPOs) activities related to technical assistance, capacity building and parliamentary strengthening; and inward and outward bilateral parliamentary delegation visits. 2) What is the Official Inter-Parliamentary Relations (IPR) Programme? A) New Zealand s inter-parliamentary relations are currently centered on support for, and promotion of, the development of parliamentary democracy, particularly in the Pacific. It does this though the official IPR programme, active membership of international inter-parliamentary organisations, the establishment of Parliamentary Friendship Groups, and hosting and contributing to parliamentary conferences and study programmes. The IPR Programme is directed by the Speaker and is managed by the Parliamentary Relations Team, within Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. It provides both members and New Zealand with opportunities for international engagement at the parliamentary level, and for members to develop professionally and expand their knowledge and international networks. 1 F.W. Weiglas and G. de Boer, Parliamentary Diplomacy, The Hague Journal of 2 Diplomacy 2, Hamilton, op cit, p.5.

2 3) What are the changes being proposed to be made to the IPR Programme? A) The IPR Programme is a key part of the implementation plan for the strategy. It will be enhanced to provide further services and opportunities to members, including: opportunities for members engagement with other parliaments, interparliamentary organisations and other existing opportunities bringing the existing political exchanges programme (previously organised separately) into the IPR Programme; and providing for new opportunities for members professional development, through engagement with other Parliaments and inter-parliamentary and other international organisations. In these ways, the enhanced IPR programme will support the realisation of this strategy s intent to make Parliament s inter-parliamentary relations increasingly strategic and more effective in achieving the international vision for our Parliament. 4) Strategic Direction 1: What is Speaker-led Diplomacy about? A) The Speaker is both a leader and statesman for New Zealand; our Minister for parliamentary democracy. As New Zealand s foreign relations are generally not advanced in a partisan way, the Speaker (and on occasion, cross-party delegations) can be valuable in promoting our national interests and providing others with an understanding of the successful way New Zealand s system of representative democracy works to produce stability and confidence in our economy. Speakers have the ability to open doors in international relationships and Speaker-led diplomacy the highest level of inter-parliamentary relations. 5) Strategic Direction 2: What is New Zealand s participation in Inter- Parliamentary Organisations (IPOs)? A) The New Zealand Parliament is currently an active member of three IPOs: the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) the CPA and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF). New Zealand also has observer status at the ASEAN Inter- Parliamentary Assembly, but does not currently attend. Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) The CPA was founded in 1911 to promote the advancement of parliamentary democracy by enhancing knowledge and understanding of democratic governance. With branches in most of the legislatures (at both federal and state level) in the Commonwealth, the CPA represents approximately 16,000 parliamentarians. It pursues its objectives through annual general conferences, professional development seminars, workshops and exchanges, technical assistance to individual parliaments and the provision of specialist information. New Zealand is part of the CPA Pacific Region and regularly co-operates with the Australian Region, which includes the Federal, State and Territory parliaments. The New Zealand Parliament provides the Secretariat for the CPA Pacific Region. It also has an active CPA Group and a Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Group, and holds a permanent Pacific seat on the CPA Executive Committee.

3 Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) The IPU is the global organization of parliaments of sovereign states, with over 160 national parliaments as members. As the focal point for world-wide parliamentary dialogue, the IPU works for peace and co-operation among peoples and for the establishment and maintenance of representative democracy. It brings together members representing every political system and most political colours of the world, making it a unique platform for observing global political opinions and trends. The IPU is focused on sustainable development, international peace and security, human rights and humanitarian law, promoting women s participation in politics; education, science and culture. New Zealand has an active IPU Group and participates in twice yearly IPU assemblies. APPF New Zealand was a founding member of APPF in 1992, and has continued as a member since. There are now 28 member countries that seek to promote greater regional identification and cooperation, support other regional organisations (such as APEC) and focus on issues of mutual interest, such as trade and security in the region. New Zealand attends annual meetings of APPF in January, and hosted the 16th meeting of the APPF in Auckland in ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) AIPA was established in 1977 to recognise the role parliamentarians can play in support of ASEAN. It aims to establish and maintain an exchange of information, coordination and consultations with ASEAN, provide parliamentary contributions to ASEAN integration, and familiarise the peoples of Southeast Asia with policies aimed at achieving an ASEAN community. It also seeks to promote human rights, democracy, peace, security and prosperity within ASEAN. New Zealand has observer status at AIPA, but does not currently attend. 6) Strategic Direction 3: What are bilateral visits? A) Parliament promotes New Zealand s national interest (and parliamentary democracy more generally) through its engagement with the international parliamentary community, including through bilateral visits. They serve to promote New Zealand s values, highlight areas of common interest between countries, strengthen bilateral and parliamentary connections and demonstrate New Zealand s strong, plural and multicultural society. Bilateral visits to New Zealand can be undertaken by: Presiding Officers from other parliaments Officials from parliamentary organisations, and youth organisations, Select committees Members (or groups of Members) of Parliament Parliamentary Friendship Groups (PFGs); and Parliamentary officials. Parliament has two regular exchanges with other countries, the annual committee exchange with the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia, and the biannual Inter-Parliamentary Meeting with the European Parliament. The IPR

4 Programme also includes outward bilateral visits by the New Zealand Parliament to other parliaments, members participation at international parliamentary conferences, seminars, and exchanges; professional development events and technical assistance for parliamentary strengthening. PFGs are informal, cross-party groups of members approved by the Speaker, who organise themselves to promote relations between our Parliament and other parliaments. They play an important role in inter-parliamentary relations, as group members are often called upon to participate and host meetings for visiting delegations, as well as having regular engagement with a country s Head of Mission and the local community. 7) Strategic Direction 4: What is professional development for MPs and what is provided? A) Globally, there is increasing professionalisation of the role of the member of Parliament, without the type of supporting structures found in other professions. Parliament, by its nature, is in a regular state of change, with incumbents and new members sworn in after an election. Members do not arrive at Parliament fully formed. Like any profession, they require training and support to develop and improve in their roles. Furthermore, as the New Zealand Parliament is unicameral and not part of a federal system, its members are more reliant on overseas networks and counterparts to learn and develop in their role as parliamentarians. The IPR Programme currently provides opportunities for members professional development in the form of attendance at IPO conferences and bilateral visits to other parliaments, the select committee exchange with Australia, study leave attached to official delegations and opportunities to attend particular seminars and conferences hosted by organisations, such as the CPA and the IPU. However, the study leave provisions for members are no longer funded. There is scope to go further and provide additional opportunities for members to develop their skills, gain valuable institutional knowledge, and develop diplomatic skills and networks. The Office of the Clerk and Parliamentary Service will work together to develop a framework to provide further international opportunities for members professional development and make recommendations for legislative reform if required. 8) Strategic Direction 5: What is Parliament s involvement in capacity building and parliamentary strengthening in the Pacific? A) The New Zealand Parliament has long supported capacity building and strengthening parliaments in the Pacific, through: Hosting regular Pacific Region parliamentary study programmes Hosting bilateral study visits for individual Pacific parliaments Providing technical support to Pacific parliaments through the regional twinning arrangements Hosting Pacific staff attachments Supporting members participation in the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade-led annual Pacific Mission; and

5 Supporting Pacific Speakers and members attendance at important conferences, such as the Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference (POCC). The New Zealand Parliament s work in the Pacific is highly regarded and appreciated by our members, our partners, and the Pacific parliaments. Many Pacific parliaments continue to face significant challenges. More could be done in collaboration, with additional resources and a more strategic approach, to make progress and achieve important outcomes for Pacific countries and for the region.